U.S.
and Colombian Authorities Coordinate Arrest of 56 Members of Enterprise
Charged in Manhattan Federal Court; $25 Million Worth Of Heroin and
$3 Million in Cash Seized

Special
Agent in Charge John Gilbride addresses the media at the press
conference.

JUN
21--(New York) - JOHN P. GILBRIDE, the Special Agent in
Charge of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”)
in New York and MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for
the Southern District of New York, along with RAYMOND W. KELLY, Police
Commissioner of New York City Police Department, and WAYNE E. BENNETT,
Superintendent of the New York State Police (working collectively
as the New York City Drug Enforcement Task Force (the “DEA
Task Force”), announced today the results of “Operation
Double Identity,” a coordinated takedown of an international
heroin-trafficking organization responsible for smuggling tens of
millions of dollars worth of heroin from Colombia into New York City.

According to SAC
Gilbride, “Today, 56 members of this powerful heroin trafficking
organization are in custody as a result of the coordinated efforts
of the DEA Task Force and Colombian authorities. The criminal organization
targeted in “Operation Double Identity” used highly-sophisticated
smuggling methods to bring its heroin into the United States and ultimately
to New York City.”

“They hid
heroin in virtually everything but the kitchen sink -- in furniture
shipments, the soles ofsandals, and golf bags, and also used human ‘swallowers’ to
smuggle heroin pellets to the U.S. on board commercial airliners,” added
Gilbride.

Condoms
(pictured here) were used to smuggle the heroin into New York and
Florida.

The investigation
began in the Summer of 2004 when Colombian authorities seized more
than 50 pounds of heroin in Cali, Colombia.

Earlier this morning,
Colombian authorities arrested nine leaders and 12 members of the organization
who controlled the heroin supply from Cali, Colombia. In addition,
the DEA Task Force simultaneously arrested nine additional members
of the enterprise in New York City and Florida.

Prior to today’s
arrests the task force arrested 26 members of the organization, all
of whom are being prosecuted in Manhattan federal court. During the
investigation, the DEA Task Force and Colombian authorities, assisted
by officers with the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border
Patrol, in Florida, seized more than 250 pounds of the organization’s
heroin – worth more than $25 million –- that was destined
for New York City streets.

During a two-year
investigation, the DEA Task Force, DEA’s Bogota, Colombia office,
and Colombian authorities gathered evidence against the nine leaders
of the organization based in Cali, Colombia, who controlled the heroin
supply. According to the Charging Documents, the DEA Task Force also
identified the organization’s New York City-based cells – one
led by ROBERTO SOTO-BELTRAN and four associates; another led by JAIME
LONDONO and ten associates –- who were responsible for receiving
shipments of heroin from Colombia and then distributing the narcotics
to the organization’s retail operations in the Bronx, New York.
The enterprise’s Bronx-based retail business was led by JOSE
RODRIGUEZ NIEVES, a/k/a “Cuba,” and 14 associates. Additionally,
the DEA Task Force and Colombian authorities identified four Florida-based
members of the organization who facilitated the transport of the Colombian
heroin shipments to New York City.

These
sandals were used to hide some of the $25 million dollars worth
of heroin into the United States from Colombia.

In addition to dismantling
the Colombian supply side of the organization, and arresting members
of the U.S.-based distribution cells, the DEA Task Force, in January
and February 2005, dismantled the retail operations of the organization
allegedly led by JOSE RODRIGUEZ NIEVES in the Bronx, New York. During
this phase of the investigation, the DEA Task Force identified RODRIGUEZ
NIEVES’ stash houses in the Bronx and heroin mills in Queens,
and seized packaged heroin destined for New York City streets, as well
as more than 20 “stamps” used to brand the heroin for sale.
After RODRIGUEZ NIEVES and the 15 members of his retail crew were arrested,
the DEA Task Force seized approximately $3 million in profits from
the heroin sales in the form of United States Currency and watches,
jewelry, and luxury cars that RODRIGUEZ NIEVES had purchased. Photographs
of the heroin, stamps, and United States Currency, watches, and jewelry
recovered by the DEA Task Force are attached.

Some
of the $3 million in cash seized as part of Operation Double
Identity.

If convicted, all
the charged defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment
and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment on the heroin-trafficking
charges. Based on the terms of the extradition arrangement between
the United States and Colombia, the United States will provide assurances
to Colombia that it will not seek a life sentence with respect to the
nine leaders of the organization provisionally arrested today in Cali,
Colombia. RODRIGUEZ NIEVES and a number of the members of his retail
cell also face an additional mandatory sentence of five years imprisonment,
and in some cases additional terms of incarceration, for various firearms
charges.

The prosecutions
are being handled by three Units of the United States Attorney’s
Office –- the International Narcotics Unit, the Narcotics Unit,
and the Violent Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys DANIEL
STEIN, CHRISTINE MEDING, and REED BRODSKY are in charge of the prosecutions.

Note: The charges
contained in the Charging Documents unsealed today are merely accusations,
and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.